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This month’s question: “What are your writing goals for the new year?”

My writing life is so out of sync at the moment as I’m searching for some way to get back into a routine of some sort. So far, nothing is working.

Hubby was furloughed when the federal government shutdown on December 21st (well, technically it’s only a partial shutdown, but still) which means he’s been home 24/7 since. I have the only computer in the house, and of course, he’s been monopolizing all my free time on it to keep up with the news as well as other things. I might be able to get on for maybe 30 minutes each day, not nearly enough time to do much of any real writing. The rest of my time has been spent juggling bills when we have no income coming in, and “spring” cleaning. He thinks that my sitting at the desk for several hours each day is a sign of my being lazy.

Writing…lazy? Really?

Yeah, I have a husband who really doesn’t get me as a writer, but I forgive him for this. Still, it doesn’t make it any easier.

Okay, my rant time is over.

I gave up on setting resolutions as I’ve never really been successful with them. Instead, I prefer to set goals. For 2019 I do have a few goals I hope to attain:

Take at least one writing workshop (poetry especially)

Finish Draft One for novels: The Hidden Avalon, Terror From the Deep, and Hope Falls

Write every day (min. word count: 250)

I believe these to be quite reasonable with ample room to add more goals if I wish.

November is over, and the tree is up! Now, it’s time to think about Christmas shopping. Yeah, I know, I’m late in starting, but that’s how I roll…every single year!

Well, NaNoWriMo has ended and I finished just shy of 14k. I am a bit disappointed that it wasn’t way higher, but progress is progress, right? I set another goal for the story I started with this and that is to reach 75k (or if the story feels complete before that) by Feb. 1st, 2019. This I believe is a reasonable goal.

From there I plan to set it aside for a few weeks to work on other projects. I hope to go back to it around March/April and begin the editing/revision phase. After this I’d like to see about gathering a few Beta readers to help me make the story even better. My goal is to have as polished a manuscript as possible by the end of 2019. Around this time, I may even attempt to take part in the Pitch Wars.

What about you? What are your writing goals for December? I love to hear them!

The question of the month is: what are your thoughts on social online publishing platform?

Seriously. What do you think about using sites like the ones above for publishing your stories (novels included)?

Good idea? Bad?

I’ve used them periodically on and off for several years now. For me, they help me work on a book chapter by chapter while getting feedback. Especially with sites like Wattpad or Writerscafe, I can find out if a particular storyline has true potential, or needs to go back to the “drawing board,” and for most of the ones I’ve done, scrapped altogether.

By posting/publishing stories/books on these places do they hurt your chances of finding a traditional publisher?

I don’t think so.

I used these sites to write my first draft. And if I seriously want to find a traditional publisher for a particular story, I’d take it down before performing the heavy-duty editing/revising.

Heck, there’s been several writers on Wattpad who actually were approached by one of the big publishing houses to have their book published with them, and even a few had their stories optioned for television and big screen film.

It’s a new world out there (well, not truly “new” per say but the rules have changed). This is truly one of the best times to be a writer.

So, what about you? Any thoughts? Have any personal experiences with any one of these sites?

This month’s question: What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?

Ultimately, like many other writers, I’d love to have a book published. But, fearing that I’d be penalized by Social Security (am on disability benefits for my progressive vision loss-called Usher Syndrome) I can’t earn very much so I’ve tabled that…for now. In the meantime, I write poetry and short (as well as flash) fiction of which some are published in various zines.

Another one of my goals is to learn the playwriting craft, and attempt an one-act play. I already have a title, just need to write it. I then would love to see it performed through a local Council for the Arts performance group. Having moved to North Dakota back in 2015, I haven’t made too many friends yet; I figure what better way to get to know people in the community than through the local arts.

I don’t think my writing goals have changed much over the years (started writing seriously in 2007) since they usually involve being published in some capacity which I have done with several of my short works.

What about you? What are some of your biggest goals that you would like to fulfill?

This month’s question: What’s harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?

For me, the book titles (or for any type of stories, short or long) are more difficult to come up with. A title has to encompass the theme and message of the story, giving the reader some idea of what it may be about. Because of this, it takes a while to come up with a title that “feels” right. Many times I end up giving a story a working title until I can come up with a better one.

With some stories, any title I gave never felt right. For these, I usually set them to one side for a while in the hope that the right title will magically pop in mind. It does happen, but rare. I’d end up settling for one that I could live with, and move on.

What about you? Which one is more difficult for you to come up with a name?

This month’s question: When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing?

Photo Credit: Alexander Tayson

I’m experiencing this weather phenomenon right now. If you look out my window, you’ll see the partially bare ground laced with dirty snow. The air is frigid as the arctic breeze sweep through the barren trees that pepper our farmstead.

It’s April, but winter is sticking around.

I’ve been cooped up indoors for months. I leave the house only once a week for grocery shopping, and that’s it.

No fresh air. No real exercise (the treadmill only goes so far).

Depression is settling in heavy, and affecting my writing life.

With several projects lined up to be worked on, all I’ve done is watch medical dramas on Hulu.

I feel the dark clouds billowing over my head as I ignore the jabbering of characters in my mind. Rain comes in form of tears as the frustration (with myself) grows.

I must find a way to jump-start my writing.

Writing is my sun. My fresh air.

But right now, the storm clouds are winning.

Bottomline, the problem is I’m a writer with very little outside contact (other than family members). No one to spur me on with a pep talk or encouragement. Being a shut-in (self imposed), there is no one to blame for my predicament other than myself.

Granted, I can’t just hop in a car and drive because of my blindness.

However…

There is this lovely thing called technology that allows one to keep connected with people from all walks of life. This for me has been a blessing.

So, instead of wallowing in self-pity, I’m here, blogging, and in essence, writing which is all the kick in the pants I need for the clouds to roll back, and allow the sun to peek through.

This month’s question: Do you have any quotes you use for inspiration?

Every once in a while I get stuck as a writer. Whether the right words are being elusive, or I’m stressed over something from my personal life (usually over finances), or I just can’t get focused. These are times when I look to quotes to help either jumpstart my creativity, or just get me in to a reflective mood which tend to get the words flowing.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

“The real story is not the plot, but how the characters unfold by it.”
~ Vanna Bonta

“Writing is my time machine, takes me to the precise time and place I belong.” ~Jeb Dickerson